Automobile.



w if 41Min "f *MINIMUM .M Tljlllllllillllillllll PATENTED DEU. 24, 1907. .IL L. IADE.

y AUTOMOBILE.

Y AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA 116.15, 1906.

PATENTED DEC. 24, 1907. H. L. IDB'.

AUTOMOBILE. APPLIoA'HoN FILED AUG. 1s. '1906.

P@ 5 A 3 Emmy-SHEET z HARRYv L. IDE, OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMOBILE.

No. 874,405.l

Specification of Letters` Patent.

Patented Dec. 24, 1907..

Application filed August 15. 1906. Serial No. 330.746.-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY L. IDE, citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Sangamon and State of Illinois, have inventedl a certain new and useful Improvement iii Automobiles, of which the following is a full, clear, concise and exact description, reference being had to the ac` companying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to automobiles, and has several objects in View;

One object of the invention is to provide an improved mounting for the motor or engine whereb relative movement may readily be perrrutted between the motor or engrme frame or casing with respect to the main ame of the vehicle, Without buckling lof any of the parts of the automobile.' In practicing this feature of my invention, I .prefer to employ mechanism that will notonly accomplish this object, but will-also accomplish other objects, as will hereafter appear in the description of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

'My invention has for another general object the provision of improved apparatus for permitting effective lubrication of working parts of the automobile and the provision of an improved housing for the transmission mechanism.

My invention will fully appear from the following descriptionA of the accompanymg drawings, showing the preferred embodiment thereof, in which- Figure, 1 is a plan view of the frame and runmng gear portion of the automobile, the body being eliminated, as it is not essential in theillustration of-the invention, and in order that the essential features of the invention may clearly appear. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the construction shown in Fig.

, 1, with the two nearer wheels removed.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a plan View o f the cradle directly supporting the engine, which cradle is, in turn, mounted upon the main frame of the automobile, as indicated in Fig.`

1. Fig. -5 is a side view of the cradle. Fig. 6 1s an end view-of the cradle. Fig. 7 is a detail vlew showing a cushion device, several of which I prefer to interpose between the cradle and the main frame. Fig. 8 is an end view illustrating one of the supports for the englne and its cradle. Fig. 9 is a side view of the construction shown in Fig. S. Fig. 1()

vreadily be placed in pos1tion.

working parts of is a view illustrating another one of the supports for the engine and its cradle. Fig. 11 is a detail view illustrating. the rear gear case, the pump and some of the gearing therein, the pump being preferably adapted l to effect circulation of the oil or equivalent lubricant.

Like lparts are indicated by similar char acters of reference throughout the different iigures.

The en ine 1, of any suitable type, is pro-1 vided Wit a number of outsetting arms 2 that are secured at their 'outer ends to the longitudinal members of a cradle 3, which cradle thereupon becomes a supporting art of the engine frame, and it is this part o the engine frame that I prefer to mount u on the main frame of the machine, though do not wish to be limited to the provision of a Separately formed cradle for this purpose. I prefer the cradle, however, as it enables me to properly mount the engine with respect to a support (the cradle), which su port may oreover, the cradle in itself, being formed of skeleton frame Work, affords a somewhat flexible mounting for the engine and effectively permits one of the main -objects of"'t'he"in`ven-` tion to be secured. The en ine, through the intermediation of this cradIe, has two supports, and preferably only'tWo-su ports, dis'- posed centrally longitudinally o the automobile. One of thesesupports is desirably in the form of a ball and socket construction, which may be located nearest the forward end of the automobile, the ball member 4 of whichv may be mountedV underneath the forward yoke 5 uniting the side members of the cradle 3, While the socket member 6 may be mounted upon the yoke 7 that 'joins the side members of the main-automobile frame 8. The mounting 4, 6 forthe engine is thus preferably near the forward end of the engine and disposed beneath the same, and is of such a nature that there is no appreciable relative longitudinal movement permitted between the ortion of the yoke 5 contiguous to the .yo e 7. The second of the aforesaid two sup orts is located at the'rear ofthe engine and a so'beneath the same, one member 9' being secured to and beneath the yoke 10, Whiler the companion Velement 11 is mounted upon a second yoke 12 joining -the side members of the frame 8. This latter mounting desirably permits the rear ortion of the engine and the rear portion of t e cradle tol move longitudinally with respect to the frame 8, so that no stress is im osed upon the frame 8,.due to the contraction and expansion of the engine parts.

The rear portion of the engine and contiguous artsare preferably not only adapted to sli e upon the element 11 but the cradle is permitted a cradle motion on this support 11, to which end a flaring groove is desirably afforded in said element 1l', as indicated at 12 (Fig. 8), and a projection 13, preferably V-shaped and flaring lessthan the groove, extends lnto the groove 12', said rojection 13 being sufficiently high to a ord desired clearance between the elements 9 and 11, in order that the proper range of cradle or rocking action may be secured at the rear of .the

cradle, it being apparent that the support 4,

6 at the front of the cradlev permits rocking action of the.cradle, also. The latter support prevents longitudinal thrust of the engine parts, so that the said engine may properly transmit power to the running gear.

The mountinglfor the engine frame that desirably ermiti no longitudinal movement between t e en rine frame and the frame 8 of the vehicle, is s own partially at 6 in Figs. 5 and 6, and more com letely at 4, and 7 of Figs. 2y and .10, while the mounting illustrated in Figs. 8. andQ that permits expansion and contraction of the engine frame, is

shownpartially in Fig. 5 at 13 and more fully in Fig. 2 at 9, 11 and 12. It will be observed that the -rejection 13 is somewhat in the nature of a nife edge that extends longitudinally of the automobile, and, being unrestricted in longitudinal movement, is permittedI to movellongitudinally of the automobile with respect to the frame thereof for the purpose stated.

In order that vertical displacementfof the cradle may be prevented, bolts 14 are assed through the elements 4, 6, 9, 11, as in( icated most clearly in Figs.'8, 9 and 10.

The centrall disposed bearings just (lescribed are pre erably the only bearings that I employ for mounting the cradle and the e11- gine secured to the cradle, and in order that cradle action ma be further promoted, I eX- tend the forwar and rear outsetti-ng arms-2 so that they may overlie portions of the yokes 7 and 12 that are contiguous to the side members of the frame 8, and. I employ cushion devices between the upper sides of the free ends of these arms 2 and the yokes 7 and 12, whereby the rise of the said long arms 2 is resisted by said cushions but is permitted, when 4the lautomobile is sufficiently jolted, properly to cushion theA engine.

In the preferred 'em bodirnent of the invention, and in the embodiment of the invention shown, these cushions do not constitute supports forthe engine or its cradle, as I prefer to employ helical s rings 15 (as indicated most clearly in Fig.

7 each located above the corresponding free end of the engagin arm 2 and interposed between said free en and the head 16 of a bolt 17 whose shank passes freely through the arm 2 into the main frame yoke. In the construction shown, the central longitudinally displaced bearings hitherto described are alone relied upon to afford a mounting, for it is apparent that if these two bearings were removed there would be nothing to prevent the descent ofthe engine and its cradle until the cradle directly engaged the yokes 7 and 12, although said springs have to be interposed between the outsetting arms and the main frame yokes in order that the cushion action may be secured, and this interposition of the springs is effected by the location of said springs between the heads of the bolts secured to the main frame, on the one hand, and the cradle arms, on the other. While one of the lower two bearings for the cradle and the engine act to revent bodily movement of the engine wit respect to the main frame of the vehicle at one point, and the other of said two bearings permits this bodily movement, I do not wish to be limited in all embodiments of the invention to this characteristic. It will thus be seen that a very flexible mounting is afforded for the engine, which is thus relieved, to a very great extent, of the jars and violent vibrations to which the main frame 8 ofthe machine may be subject. If desired, the cooling mechanism 1 8 may have advantage of thesame mounting provided for the engine, by being directly secured to the cradle.

When an engine of the type illustrated is employed, I preferably provide a single crank or shaft case 19 common to all of the units of the engine,which crank case may have adetachable section, as indicated at 20, which, by reason of the employment of the cradle,

' ma be very readily removed and replaced.

If e'sired, this crank case may be filled with lubricating oilI for lubricating various bearings, which same lubricating oil I preferably, though not necessarily, employ for lubricating bearings that are not directly included in the engine construction but which are included in the transmission mechanism affording driving connection between the, engine and the/traction wheels of the automobile.

I preferably employ a case, 21, which incloses the mechanism that establishes the umon between the main driving shaft 22 of the engine and the transmission shaft 23, this case 21 constituting a continuation of the crank or shaft case 19 and being virtually a part thereof. In the embodiment of the invention shown, the instrumentality that affords the'connectionbetween the shafts 22 and'23-is a well known clutch mechanism, illustrated 'at 24.

The case 19, 21 desirably contains lubril eating oil to lubricate the various bearings that are afforded for tlwcx shaft 23 and other' bearings in the transmission gear. One of Iso these bearings 25 for said shaft 23 is provided I shaft of the automobile, in a manner so well known as not to require detailed description or illustration. In order that the shaft 23`will not buckle or bind as the rear of the engine moves With respect to the wheel shaft or main portion 231, preferably made square in crosslsection, which engages a correspondingly shaped bore in the section 232 of the shaft 23. Theshaft 23 is desirably inclosednot only for v the purpose of protecting the working parts from dust and dirt, but also preferably for the purpose of affording a passage for lubricating oil from the crankcase 21 to the gear case 28 at the rear of the shaft 23. To this end, I employ a tube having at one end a ball and socket union at 29 with the case 21 to` afford a universal connection, and at the time'theengine may rock or the tube may rock without disturbing the union between 'v the case and tube.

In order that the rear part of the automobile mechanism may twist 'andmove with respect to the forward mech# anism of the automobile, the said tube is formed in two sections 30 and 31, one of which is inclosed by the other, and between whichrelative rotation may be afforded. ln

:order that there may be relative longitudinal movement between the front mechanism and the rear mechanism of the automobile, the

:said sections 30, 31 of the tube are not only permitted relative rotary movement but are also adapt-ed to slide with respect to each i other.

n order that the said tube may act as a conveyer' for lubricant, the space between the sections 30, 31 is made sufficiently oil tight, as are the connections between the said tube andthe cases united thereby. The tube'30, 31 constitutes a flexible connection ,between the cases .21, 28 and affords communlcation between these cases, whereby oil contained in the case 21 may'find access through the said tube into the gear case 28.

` A' duct 32 permits return of the oil from' case .28 to the case 21, said duct preventing the accumulation of too much oil in the case 28. The return flow of the o'il may be promoted by means of a small pump 33, of any suitable construction, and which may be operated by the gearing in the case 28.

The lubricating feature herein disclosed forms a part of the subject-matter of my diand the case 21 form withthe cases 19 and 28 Va substantially continuous inclosure for the elements of the transmission mechanism'op- 4 l erated by the motor, frame 8 of the automobile, theehaft'23 has a. '11,

I, do not deem it necessary to describe any further features of the automobile illustrated as the drawings are very clear. 4 It will be observed that the universal joints at the end of the telescoping shaft are contained in cases. The lupper universal joint .is in the shaft case, while the lower universal joint is in the gear case. In this way,- bothuniversal joints may be thoroughly lubricated by lubricant contained in these cases, which lubricant is agitated yby the movin parts therein. I v j p Whi e I have herein shownand particularly described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it isobvious that changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not, there.-v fore, wish to be limited to the precise construction shown, but,

Having thus described my-invention, I claim as new Patentz'- 1.,'An automobile including its frame and desire to secure by Letters--vv sol mounted uponj Wheels, `a rocking cradle j mounted upon the frame, and an v,operating l engine mounted'uponV thecradle, said cradle having two bearings displaced longitudinally lof the ,automobileV and disposed substantially midway between the sides of the frame.

2,. An automobile including its frame mounted upon wheels, a rocking cradle mountedupon the frame, an operating engine lmounted upon the cradle, cushioning means interposed between the cradle and frame, and two bearings also interposed between the cradle and frame.

vf--3 .'An Vautomobile including its frame mounted upon Wheels, a rocking cradle mounted upon the frame, and an operating engine mounted upon the 5cradle, said cradlev having two bearings displaced longitudinally of the automobile, one of said bearings substantially preventing relative longitudinal movement between the cradle and frame, while the other of said bearings permits such longitudinal movement.

4. An automobile including its frame mounted upon wheels, a rocking cradle mounted 4upon the frame, an operating en-- gine mounted upon the cradle, cushioning means interposed between the cradle and frame, and two bearings also interposed bctw een the cradle and said trame, one of-said bearings substantiallyreventing relative longitudinal movement etween the cradle and frame, while the other of said bearings permits such longitudinal movement.

5. An autombile including its frame mounted uponwheels, and an operating en`- gine mounted upon the frame, saidvenginel having two een'trallydis .osed bearings displaced longitudinallyo' the automobile,

\ engine and fra-me and displaced longitudinally of the automobile, upon which t gine may rock. 'v i .5'

7. An automobile i including its frame mounted upon wheels, and an operating engine mounted upon the frame, said engine having two bearings vdisplaced longitudinally of the automobile, one of said bearings substantially preventingv relative longitudinal movement between 'the' engine and frame, whilethe other of said bearings permits such longitudinal movement.

8, An .automobile including its `frame mounted upon wheels, an operating engine mounted upon the iframe, cushioning means interposed between the engine and frame, and two bearings also interposed between the engine and frame, one yof said bearings substantially preventing' relative longitudinal movement between the engine and frame, while the other of said bearings permits such longitudinal movement. I

9. An automobile including itsv frame y `mounted upon wheels, and, an operating engine mounted upon the frame, said engine having two'bearings displaced longitudinally e enof the automobile, one of said bearings substantially preventing relative longitudinal movement.

movement between the engine and framep frame; while'the other of said bearings permits such longitudinalmovement, the mounting for the-engine permitting the engine to rock;

W 11: An automobile including its frame mounted upon wheels, an o erating-engine, 1

and a mountin therefor su stantially pre venting longitu inal movement of one end of the engine with respect tothe frame of the vehicle and permitting such longitudinal movement at the other end of the engine,

said mounting including a cradle interposed between the engine and the Vframe of the vehicle;

12. A n automobile including its trame mounted upon wheels, and an operating engine mounted upon the frame, said engine having two bearings-displaced longitudinallyof the automobileand each dis osedl subof said bearings permits such longitudinal In witnesswhereof, I hereunto subseribe my name this 27th dayof July A. 1).,11906.

` 4 HARRY L. lIDE. l

Witnesses:

FRED W. LONG,

G. L. HAlumnnn'enn.

l stantially midway betweenthe sides of the; frame, one of said bearings substantially pref"A venting relative longitudinal movement between the engineand-frame, while the other 

